487 



• Agencies perform outreach and cHgiblllty services 



Low-income households are often difficult to identify and obtain 

 participation. The comraunity-based organizations perform excellent 

 outreach and are prepared to work with tie special needs of low-income 

 persons and housing stock. BPA's requirement to serve low-income 

 populations is accomplished through DCD's delivery system. Utilities 

 alone cannot serve the same number of low-income persons in the 

 comprehensive way that community-based organizations can. 



Many utilities rely on the conununity-based^organizations to determine low- 

 income eligibility, or to identify low-income households for theii 

 conservation programs. 



• Agencies perform consumer education 



The Department of Community Development has been a leader in the 

 field of consumer energy conservation education. Most DCD agencies 

 have an education component and trained energy conservation educators. 

 Many studies have shown that the combination of weatheriiation and 

 consumer energy conservation education result in more effective and long- 

 lasting energy savings than measures or education alone. 



Funding is the biggest obstacle fadng implementation of consumer . 

 education. 



The Po wer Pli ^ n directs BPA to na v fpr low-Income wtatherfaaHon programs - 

 JtaT^r^'^PI^ "" ^^^ Low-Income Proerama 



The Northwest Power Planning Council, in its 1986 Power Plan, requires BPA to fully 

 fund its low-income wcatherization program. The Coundl stated: ' 



V. that Bonneville should provide for 100 percent of the cost of all measures 

 installed in low-income homes. Data indicate that many low-income home 

 weatherizations funded by Bonneville in the state of Washington require financial 

 supplements from other federal programs. These other federal programs, with 

 limited budgets, are required to serve homes using all fuels. The Council believes 

 that these tax-supported programs should not have to bear costs that the region's 

 electric power system should be assuming for the purchase of conservation 

 reiources....JBonnevillc's low-income program shoiild not require the use of 

 financial supplements from any other source."' 



Morthv«*t Po%««r Plaoning Council, ^orthwit Con»arT«tlon and 

 Electric Power Pltn . Volume 1. 1986. ptgat 9-11 tlirouflh 9-12. 



